Article distributor for conveyers



Oct. 28, 1952 s. T. CARTER ARTICLE DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONVEYERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. T. CARTER ARTICLE DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONVEYERS Oct. 28, 1952 5 Sheets-S Filed Aug. l2, 1948 ll` l f n n 4., d

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Oct. 28, 1952 s. T. CARTER ARTICLE DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONVEYERS 5 Sheets-Sheet '3 Filed Aug. 12, 1948 Oct- 28,

S. T. CARTER ARTICLE DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONVEYERS Filed Aug l2l 1948 Z510/87%,., yZ/ahep OCL 28, 1952 s. T. CARTER ARTICLE DISTRIBUTOR FOR coNvEYERs 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. l2, 1948 Patented Oei. 28, 1952 ARTICLE DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONVEYERS Sidney T. Carter, Worcester, Mass., assignor, by mesne'assignments, to Geo. J. Meyer Manufacturing Co., Cudahy, Wis., a corporationof Wisconsin Application August 12, 1948, Serial No. 43,827

This invention pertainstc a conveyor of the kind-Which' includes means, for example, axbelt or'chain, operative to move larticles in a predetermined direction, and'means,Y for instance, iixed guides, deni'ng'a plurality of parallel guide pathsalong veach of which `some rof the moving articles r'are progressed' torespectively diierent delivery points, for example, toV several like but independent processing units, such, for instance,- asflabel applying machines. Usually the articles, forlexample', 'cans,-bottles, etc., are supplied to the conveyor beltJ or chain by means such as a feed belt `or'chute which delivers the articles to -thereceiving end of the conveyor belt or chain in'zamassdevoid of order or particular arrangement. This mass of articlesV is moved along by the-.conveyor belt toward the entrances to the several guide paths. It is usually desired .that a substantially equal number of articlesenter each of the respective guide paths. Customarily, the= railsor walls which dene the several guide paths areflxed. Sometimes an approaching article may strike squarely on the end of `one of thesenxed guide 'walls so that its movement is checked and this may result4 in the formation of. a jam-or bridge of articles which completely blocks the entrance to one or more of the guide paths .f, Variousprior devices have been proposed forthe purpose of avoiding such jamming of the articles at. the kentrances to the guide paths, and

to ,insure proper divisionoi vthe articles amongy theseveral' paths, but most such prior devices.

known` to meare complicated and expensive and not wholly to be relied upon.

vThe presen1-; invention has for its principal ob-v ject the provisionkof a simple, inexpensive and very durable mechanism operative to prevent the jamming of articles at the entrances to the guide paths and to insure the adequate delivery of articles to each of the several paths. A further ob' ject is to provide a simple means operative to agitate the mass of articles as they approach the entrances to the guidepaths, thereby to avoid the 24 Claims. (Cl. 198--30) 2 1 demand forA the article lessens,wso that one or more vof the guide pathsis choked. Other` and furtherv objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and byreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view.r to small scale,

diagrammatically illustrating a conveyor systemv serving aseries of operating units, said conveyor formation of a jam or bridge of articles at the i entrances to the paths. Afurther object is to provide'means applicable to existing conveyors for dividing'approaching articles so that substan' tially equal numbers cf articles will enter the several guide paths. A further object is to pron vide means for keeping clear the entrances to the guide paths, said means receiving its driving power from the conveyor belt or chain. A fur-` in Fig. 4, 'viewed' from the right-:hand side ofthe latter gure;

'Figs 6j isa fragmentary section, to larger scale,

substantially on the line 6'-6 3f-Fig. '7;' f

Fig. 7 is'afragmentary plank View, v*to larger scale vtharr .6i'g. l, offthe'receiving end ofthe conveyor system and illustrating details of' the present improvement;

vFigli is a fragmentary plan View of'thereceivy ing end of the conveyor, illustrating means, shown as a gate,V for temporarily.slowiriggcr stoppingv the supply of articles when the demand for articles is diminished for anygreason; Y

Fig. 9isa fragmentarylplan View, to larger.,y I

scale than Fig, 8, showingthe gate in operative relation tothe sup-ply path;

Fig lilis av fragmentary rplan view, partly ini horizontal section, of a control valvefor the motor which actuatesthe gate;

Fig. l l is a diagrammatic plan view, illustratel ing the-normal flow civ-articles as theyenterftheseveral conveyornpaths; and

Fig. 12 is a similar View, mum-ating the acuda of the flow arresting barrier; J

Referring: to Fig.' i of the drawings, the conveyor of :the present inventionJ is illustrated vas designed tosupply articles to a series Soi processr ing luriitsihfB, Cand D which Wou-ld usually be alikezin structure and'function; for example,v eac-h .of these `emits 'maybe a label applyingmachine, awrapping machine, a packagelling ma.-

chine, etc.,- totvhich articles are-:delivered one after another in succession, and after being proefessed are discharged and conveyed 4awayl tcsom'e l,

convenient point, for example to a packing and shipping station.

As here illustrated, the articles are brought to the receiving end of the conveyor from a source of supply by an endless belt S or the like (Fig. 8) which advances the articles in a confused mass, that is to say, the articles are advanced in disorderly fashion vwithout predetermined relative arrangement. The articles thus received are divided and advanced along guide paths PI, P2, P3 and P4 (Fig. 2), here shown as parallel, from which the articles are deflected by appropriate deflector means, here shown (Fig. 1) as fixed curved guides 2, 3 and 4, respectively, for delivery to the several units A, B, C, D, etc. After being processed, the articles are discharged from the units A, B, C, D, etc. onto endless conveyor belts Z|, Z2, Z3 which deliver the articles to any desired point, for instance, to a packing and shipping room.

' The'guide paths Pl, P2, P3 and P4 are defined (for substantial portions at least of their lengths) by fixed Vertical walls 5, 6, 1, 8 and 9 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) which are rigidly supported by the conveyor frame. The oors of the guide paths PI, P2, P3 and P4 are formed, respectively, by the upper runs l0, I2 and |3 (Fig. 2) of endless conveyors. These conveyors may be belts of canvas, rubber'or the'like suitably supported to provide substantially flat, horizontal runs, but, as O here specifically illustrated, each conveyor comprises an endless link chain |43, |4b, |4c and |4d, respectively (Fig. 2), each chain carrying a series of lfiat, smooth, wear-resistant slats l5 (Fig. 3), for example slats of stainless steel whose opposite ends rest upon and are guided by fixed rails Rl, R2 (Fig. 2) so arranged as to hold the upper run of the conveyor, consisting of the slats |5, firmly and in a horizontal plane.

At the receiving end of the conveyor a xed column or post I6 (Figs. 2 and 3) supports a bracket I1 which carries bearings for a transverseshaft |8 on which are mounted to turn freely the sprocket wheels I9, 20, 2| and 22 about which the chains |43, |4b, i4C and |4d, respectively, are trained. At their right-hand ends (Fig. 1) the chains |4c and |11d are trained about sprocket Wheels 23 and 24 (Fig. 1), respectively, iixed to a transverse drive shaft 215. A gear 26, fixed to the shaft 25, meshes with a pinion 21 fixed to a shaft 28 which carries a sprocket wheel 29 about which is trained an endless chain which carries the delivery conveyor Z3. The opposite end of the latter conveyor chain is trained about a sprocket 3|) on a shaft 3| to which are xed drive sprockets 32 andv 33 for the chains of con- Veyors ZI and Z2, the shaft 3| being driven by a variable speed motor M. The right-hand ends (Fig. l) of the chains of the conveyors Zl and Z2 are trained about sprockets 34 and 35, respectively, xed to a transverse shaft carrying a pinion 36 which meshes with a g'ear 31 on a shaft 38. The shaft 38 has fixed thereto the sprockets 39 and 40 about which the right-hand ends of the chains I4El and Mb are trained.

While a rdesirable system of drive connections for the several conveyors has herein been described -and illustrated, it is to be understood that the present invention is not necessarily limited to these particular driving connections.

-The guide walls 6, 1 and il terminate at the points 5a, 1a and 8a (Figs. 1 and 7). Preferably the ends of these guide walls comprise upper vertical portions (Fig. 5) inclined intermediate portions `4| and lower vertical portions 42. Each of these guide walls 6, 1 and 8 has associated with it, respectively, an elongate blade-like agitator or bridge-breaker 43, 44 and 45 (Figs. 2, 5, '1 and 8). These agitators or bridge-breakers are disposed in the same vertical planes as the corresponding fixed guide walls 6, 1 and 8 and are supported for longitudinal movement. As here illustrated, by way of example, each of the agitators or plows 43, 44 and 45 is fixed at its lower edge to a slide or carrier 46 (Figs. 5 and 6) which has horizontal flanges 41 and 48 which slide in guideways in a support 49 xed to the carrier frame. At one end, each of the slides or carriers 46 is provided with ears 50 (Fig. 5) in which are journaled the opposite ends of a pin 5| on which one end of a connecting rod is pivoted. These connecting rods 52, 53 and 54 (Figs. 5, 6 and '1) have journal openings at their opposite ends for cranks on a horizontal crank shaft; 55 (Figs. 5, 6 and '7) whichy turns in bearings 56 (Fig. 4) supported by the conveyor frame. Preferably the cranks are so related that the agitators 43, 44 and 45 are reciprocated in out-ofphase relation, for example, the crank to which rod 53 is connected may be at an angle of 180 relatively to the cranks to which the rodsv 52 and 54 are connected. Other arrangements ofthe cranks may be employed, for instance, the three cranks may be arranged apart.

The crank shaft 55 is provided with a sprocket wheel 51 which is loose on the shaft but which is frictionally connected to the shaft by a friction clutch comprising the adjustable tension spring 51a (Fig. 4). This arrangement is designed to permit suiiicient slip between the sprocket wheel and the shaft to prevent any breakage of articles or machine parts in the event that the articles moving along the conveyor should become jammed.

A chain 58 passes about the sprocket wheel 51 and over a sprocket 59 (Figs. 2 and 7) fixed to the shaft |8 so that as the conveyors move the articles toward the entrances to the guide paths Pi, P2, P3 and P4, the plates 43, 44 and 45 are reciprocated longitudinally of the advancing con-' veyors. The right-hand ends of the agitators or plows 43, 44 and 45 are preferably shaped complementally to the ends of the fixed guides 6, 1 and 8, as shown in Fig. l5, having the vertical upper portions 6|), the inclined portions 6| andv the lower vertical portions 62. Thus, the upper right-hand portions of the agitators 43, 44 and 45 overhang the left-hand end portions of the fixed walls 6, 1 and 8 so as to lessen the danger that some part, for example, the hand of the operator, may accidentally be caught between the opposed edges of the plates. However, these opposed edges of the xed and movable parts may be vertical or otherwise contoured as desired.

The vertical plane of the left-hand ends 6e, 1a

and i3u of the iixed walls or plates 5, 1 and 8 de' nes the entrances to the guide paths Pl, P2, P3 and P4. As articles approach these entrances. the left-hand ends of the reciprocating agitator plates 43, 44 and 45 thrust into the moving mass of articles, acting somewhat like plows, with a tendency to cause the articles with which they contact to diverge either to the right or left, thus effectively preventing articles from coming to rest against the left-hand ends of the xed walls 6, 1 and 8. Without the reciprocating agitator plates, articles might come to rest straddling the ends of the fixed walls, thus narrowing the enming and interferencey with proper flow of the articles into the several guide paths.

' Sometimesbecause. of a temporary `stoppage of one or more of the unitsy A, B, C or'D while the articles continue tov approach the entrances to the l:guide paths'at the normal rate, an abnormal accumulationof articles may occur just to the left of the left-hand ends of the agitator plates because the collective capacity of the guide paths i's now exceeded. In such event, -articles may actually pile up and overflow the walls 5 and 9 at^-this point, causing damage to 'the articles themselves or, by breakage of the articles, spilling their contents with damage to the conveyor mechanism and with loss of 'time in restoring the mechanism to proper operating condition. Moreundue accumulation of articles at the entrances to the guide paths would cause slippage of 'the clutch andv complete stoppage of the agitator blades.- Tov avoid such undesirable occurrences, the" present invention automatically stops the supply in responseto the presence of any such abnormal accumulation of articles in the region of the agitator plates 43, 44 and 45. To this end now-restricting means is provided, here illustratedas a movable gate or barrier, which, when required to do so, narrows or completely closes thepath along which the articles are supplied.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8, the fixed outer wall 5 terminates at the point 5e, while the fixed wall 9 has a continuation 9a extending substanf tially to the receiving end of therconveyor. A continuation 9b of thexed wall 1 begins at the point 63 and extends to the receiving end of the conveyor. A pivoted gate-like detector 64l`s pivoted to swing about a vertical axis adjacent to the point 5a and normally extends diagonally across the conveyors I0 and H with its free end disposed substantially at the point S3. A spring 65-tends to hold the detector in this position but permitsit to swing in response to pressure against its right-hand surface (Figs. 1 and 8). A xed sto'p VG5a limits such swing of the detector. The spacel immediately to the right of the detector 64,-as shown in Figs. 11 and l2, isdevoid rof separating walls intermediate the walls 5 and 9, thus providing a space or plenumchamber within which articles delivered from the supply are free to move transversely and to nd their way 'into' the entrance of one or another of the guide paths. AA valve housing 66 (Figs. 1, 8 and 10) is fixed to the conveyor frame and housesa piston valve 61 which controls the flow of compressed air fromA a suitable source through the conduit 68 to the conduit (i9.` Preferably the valve 6l has a peripheral, pressure-balancing groove 61a. The outer endof the piston valve is connected by a link 1U to the detector 64, the arrangement being such that when the detector is in normal 'position' the valve is closed, but when the detector is swung rearwardly from its normal position the valve is opened to admit compressed air to the conduit 69.

Adjacent to the receiving endof the conveyor, where the articles are delivered by the belt S into the vsupply path dened by the xed guide Vwalls Sia and 9b, there is arranged a movable gate or barrier 10 (Figs. 8 and 9). This gate 'l0 is xed..

at its rear end to an elongate supporting arm H plvoted at 'l2 to swing about a vertical yaxis-at therear side of the wall Sb. The free or left-hand end portion of the arm 'l0 moves in ahorizontal guide slotfin a.`horizontally relongate casing'fl fixed at its..front end to the rear side o-thewall 9h, the latter wall havingf'a slotthrough/which the lgate 10 may project across the supplypath. The gate 1u tapersin Awidthirom its'rearfend: towardl its `forward endl or' tip v'14, the latter being narrow and smoothly rounded, .while tnexe'dge '1-5,v which is contacted by articles approa'ching'along the supply path, is preferably curved. on an arc concentric with the pivotal axisv 12. A springsltends to hold the arm 1I with the gateTU'in'reitracted, inoperative position, as shown 'infdotted' lines in Fig. 8, withth'e tip 14 of the gate completely Vwithdrawn from the supply'path. i

The casing' 'I3 has an elongate cy1indrical..bore in. which slides a piston 11 whose forward e'nd bears Vagainst the rear edge of the-arm 'H The. conduit 69' has an extension (i9a arranged toI de.- liver air into the rear end of the casing-"13v at' a point behind the rear end'of the piston 1l.' ,An appropriate' pressure-reducing valve g-V maybe provided between-the supply and the conduit lillvv to'insurea proper air pressure for ldelivery into the cylinder of the casing 13.l

Normally the parts B4 and r.'lll occupy thev positions indicated in Figs. 8 and 11, the articles B. (for example bottles) advancingv between ,thewalls 9a and 9b until they reach thek plenum chamber and zone of action of` the' agitators 43, 44 and I45 where they are free to move laterally so that a substantially equal number of bottles entereach of the; guideways defined by walls 5, 6, 1, 8 and 9. However,` if by reason of the`-` shutting down of one or more of the units A,j

. B, C, etc., or because articles become jammed in one of the guide paths PI, P2'etc., so thatrone. or more of said paths becomes filled or-choked with articles whichare standing still (themoving oor of the corresponding conveyor then sliding relatively to the stalled. articles) while` articles continue to be supplied along the path` between thevwalls 9 and 9bat the usual rate. the articles tend to accumulate in abnormal quantity in the plenum chamber of Whichthe detector 64 forms one wall. Eventually, unless the choked guide 'path.Pl; P2. etc. is'cleared, theA accumulation becomes so great .that the articles press against the detector 64 wth'sufcient force to push the latter rearwardly (Fig. 12), thujs opening the air admission valve and permitting air to flo'W'to the bore in the casing '|3. Thev piston 11 is thereby advanced so as to move'the gate 10 across thesupply path; Thelshapeof the gate is such that it Vreadily' enters between articles movy ing along the supply path, and, when the gate i's moved across the supply path, it temporarily ar` rests those bottles which are to the left of thev gate (Fig. 12)'so that they can notV be added to the `'mass in the zone of action. 0f the agitators 43,` 44 and 45. The'gate remains in this article'- arre'sting position so long as the detector 64 is held back by they pressure `ofjartcles-against1it; Thismay be butfor an instant or it maybe for a substantial period. During this period the accumulation of articles in the plenum chamber is gradually depleted by the entrance of articles" into such of the guide paths PI, P2, etc., as are clear, and eventually the accumulation becomes so small that the detector 64 returns to itsl normal A position, thus closing the air admissionv valve f and permitting the spring 16 to restore the gate 'HJ to its normal inoperative position `so thatthe normalflow of articles along the supply path is resumed. s

By the above means, and` in particular cooperative relation of the agitating members and the flow-constricting means, a steady and sub-` stantially uniform ow of articles into the en-V trances tothe guide paths is assured, the articles automatically distributing themselves between the several guide paths by reason of the fact that they are kept in constant agitation as they approach said entrances by the motion of agitator plates, While the possibility of choking the entrances by an abnormal accumulation of articles Vseeking entrance to said paths is substantially `prevented by the iloW-constricting gate controlled by the detector 64.

While a desirable embodiment has herein been illustrated and described by Way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: l. In combination, in apparatus of the class described, a plurality of fixed parallel guides dening paths for articles, a smooth-surfaced conveyor operative to move articles simultaneously along all of said paths, a movable support operative to advance a mass of articles toward the entrances to said paths, means for agitating the articles as they approach said entrances thereby to facilitate their entry into the severalpaths, means including a slip clutch for actuating the a'gitatin'g means, and means operative temporarily to discontinue the advance of articles toward said entrances in response to the presence of an abnormal accumulation of articles Within the field of operation of the agitating means.

2. In combination, in apparatus of the class described, a plurality of xed parallel guides defining paths for articles, an endless chain provided With smooth-surfaced, rigid slats which collectively constitute a moving support for articles advancing along said paths, a movable support operative to advance a confused mass of articles towardthe entrances to said paths, means for agitating the articles as they approach said entrances therebyto facilitate their entry into the several'paths, means, including a friction clutch, for actuating said agitating` means, and means operative in response to the presence of an abnormal accumulation of articles at the entrances to said paths, temporarily to block the path along which articles are advanced toward said entrances.

p 3. In combinationjn apparatus of the class described. a plurality of fixed parallel guides delining paths for articles, conveyor means operative to move articles simultaneously along all of said paths, an endless chainA provided with smooth-surfaced rigid slats which collectively constitute a moving support operative to ad vance a confused mass of articles toward. the entrances toV said paths, means for agitating the articles as they approach said entrances thereby to facilitate their entry into the several paths,

means including a friction clutch for actuating the agitating means, a movabledetector spaced from the entrances to said paths and which is movable from a normal position by the pressure of an abnormal accumulation of articles adjacent to the entrances to said paths, a gate for cutting off the supply of articles, and means responsive to movement of the detector from its normal position to move the gate to a position Where it stops the supply of articles.

4. In combination in apparatus of the class described, a plurality of fixed parallel guides def ning paths for articles, a conveyor operative to move articles simultaneously along all of said paths, a movable support operative to advance a confused mass of articles toward the entrances to said paths, means for agitating the articles as they approach said entrances thereby to facilitate their entry into the several paths, amovable detector spacedfrom said agitating means, means including a slip clutch for actuating the agitating means, in the direction from which articles approach, said detector beingI so normally positioned that it is out of the path of articles butv is movable from its normal position by the-pres',-I

sure of an abnormal accumulation of articles. ad-

jacent to the entrances to said paths, and a movable barrier operative at times to prevent advanceA of articles from the supply, said barrierbeing responsive to movements of the detecton 5. In combination in a conveyor havinga plurality of parallel, fixed guides cleiningA paths ,.for.

articles, means operative to advance a confused mass of articles toward the entrances to said. paths, those of said fixed guides which separate adjacent paths each having a movable extension, directed toward the mass of approaching articles, and means for moving said extensionsback and forth in out-of-tirne relation to each other..

6. In combination in a. conveyor having a. plurality of parallel, Afixed vertical Walls deilning4 paths for articles, a moving support operative to'. advance articles toward the entrances Aof said paths, means operative to deliver` a confused mass of articles onto the support,.and means for agitating said mass as it approaches vthe entrances to said paths, said agitating means comprising vertical, bridge-breaking blades clis-` posed in the planes of each of said guide Walls which separates adjacent paths, andmeans for reciprocating said members in out-of-time relation to each other. Y

'7. In combination in a conveyor having a pluv rality of parallel, fixed vertical Walls defining paths for articles, a moving support operative to advance articles toward the entrances of said paths, means operative to deliver a. confused mass of articles onto the support, and means for agitating said mass as it .approaches the entrances to said paths, said agitating means comprising a movable bridge-breaking blade arranged to move in the plane of a guide. Wall which separates adjacent paths, a shaft extending..

to said guide paths and xed guide Walls defining y said paths, a reciprocating agitator adjacent tol the entrance .to each guide path and which is movable toward and from the advancing mass of articles, a crank shaft having thereon cranks corresponding in number to the number of agitators, connecting rods for transmitting motion from the several cranks to the respective agitators,` the cranks being 'so` angularly disposed that the agitators are reciprocated in out-of phase relation, and means for turning the crank shaft.

9. In'combination in a conveyor designed to supply articles to a vplurality of processing units f to which' the articles are delivered along indii vidual guide paths, means `'for advancing Athe' articles in a confused inass toward the entrances :to said guide paths and xed guide Walls defining saidpathS, a reciprocating plow adjacent to the entrance .to each guide path and which is mov- -able toward and from the, advancing mass of articles, a crank shaft having thereon cranks corresponding inV number to the number of plows.

' connecting rods for transmitting motion from the vseveral cranks to therespective4 ploWs, and means vincluding a slip clutch for vturning the crank shaft.

10. In combination lin a conveyor designed to -supply articles lto a plurality of processing units said paths, a reciprocating agitator adjacent to the entrance to each guide path and which is movable toward and from the advancing mass ofv articles, a crank shaft having thereon cranks corresponding in number to the number of agitators, connecting rods for transmitting motion from the several cranks to the respective agitators, the cranks which drive adjacent agitators being .arranged .180 apart, Aand means including la friction clutch for turning the crank shaft.

11. In combination in a conveyor designed to supply articles to a plurality of processing units to which the articles are delivered along independent guide paths and having an endless chain provided with smooth surfaced, rigid slats which collectively constitute a moving support for articles advancing toward the ventrances to the several guide paths, fixed parallel walls defining vthe .guide paths, an agitator element at the `entrance to each guide path, a slidable support for each agitator, and power-driven means for sliding the several `supports in out-of-phase' relation.

, 12. In combination in a conveyor designed to supply articles to a plurality of processing units A-towhich the larticles are delivered along inde- '.pendent guide paths and having an endless chain provided with smooth surfaced, rigid slats which c 'collectively constitute a moving support for articles advancing toward the entrances to the `several guide paths, fixed parallel walls defining the guide paths,. each guide wall, except the exterior ones, havng amo-vable Vextension at vthat end which is directed toward the approaching articles, each of said extensions being carried Vby 'afrec'iprocable slide, a `crank shaft having there- `on a plurality of cranks, connecting rods for transmitting motion from the several cranks to the respective slides, and drive means including a friction clutch for turning the crank shaft.

13. In combinationina conveyor having means .dening a plurality of parallel -fguidepaths all leading from a common plenum; chamber, means operative to move articles along call-of the several paths concomitantly, means for supplying articles for `admission to the several paths, and automatic means operative, if the rate of supply of `articles exceeds the collective capacity 4of said guide paths, temporarily to cut olf the supply `to the plenum chamber, bridge-breaking elements :operative to prevent articles Within the plenum 'chamber from bridging vacross the entrances to the several r.guide paths, and-means including a friction Iclutch forractuating'lthe bridge-breakrpaths rconconritkantly,means for supplying articles for admission to the several paths, a detector arranged ladjacent to the entrances tosaid guide paths and Which responds to the ,presence of an abnormal vaccumulation `of articles within the plenum chamber, and means lcontrolled-,-by the detector `for .cutting off the supply of articles to rtheplenum chamber, bridge-breaking elements operative to ,prevent jarticles Within the `plenum .chamber from bridging across-the entraneto the several guide paths, and means includingY a friction clutch for actuatingthebridge-breaking elements.,k y

. 15,. In combination ina conveyor havingmeans Ydef'lninga plurality of guide paths leading from 4a plenum chamber, means operative to move articles along all of the several paths concomi- .tantly, means for supplying articles to the. plenum chamber, vflovv-resistricting means lfor cutting oi the supply of larticles and amovable deitectorelementwhich forms one Wall of the plenum chamber and which moves from a normal Vposition in response to ,an abnormalaccumulav.tion .of Varticles in said chamber, and means actuable `by the detector element to Adetermine the operation of the Vflow-restricting means bridgebreaking elementsoperative to prevent articles within the plenum chamber fromv bridging across the4 entrances to the several guide vpaths, vand means including a friction clutch vfor actuating the bridge-breaking elements. v

16. In combination I in a conveyor `having means defining a plurality of guide paths, means for moving articles along the several paths, means -for moving articles along a supply path toward the entrances to the several guidepaths,

la gate normally disposed out of the supply path,

a pivotally supported arm on Which the gate `is mounted, a spring tending to hold the gate in normal inoperative position, a pressure motor for vmoving the gate yacross the supply path, a

.detector adjacent to the entrances to said guide paths, said detector moving in response tothe presence of anabnormal accumulation Yof articles at said entrances, and a valve actuable by the Adetector for determining vthe admission of pressure fluid to the gateactuating motor.

17. In combination in a conveyor having means defining a plurality of guide paths, means V:for -rnoving articles along vthe several paths, means foradvancing articles along a supplypath toward the entrances lto the several guide paths, agate for .constricting the supply path, said gate being supported atN one end and swinging about a substantiallyvertical axis located at one side of 4said supply path, the gate tapering in width toward its free end, that side of the gate which is contacted by articlesmoving along the supply `path being curved on an arc concentric with the axisabout which the gate swings, va spring tending to retract the gate, a pressure motor rfor advancing the gate, a valve for determining the delivery of ycompressed air :to the motor, andia .detector responsivetothe presence of arr-.abs normal accumulation orarticles adjacent'tothe entrances to `said guide vpaths .for-eopeningffthe y valve.

-18. In combination rin a conveyor having means defininga plurality of guide paths leading from a plenum chamber, means for' moving chamber, means responsive to such movement of the detector thereby to cause the barrier to move across the supply path, bridge-breaking elements' operative to prevent articles Within the plenum chamber from bridging across the entrances to the several guide paths, and means including a friction clutch for actuating the bridge-breaking elements.

419; In combination in a conveyor vhaving means dening a plurality of guide paths all leadingfrom a plenum chamber, means for moving articles along the several paths, means for advancing articles along a supply path into the plenum chamber, a gate normally disposed out of the supply path but which is movable across the supply path thereby temporarily to stop the supply of articles, a pivotally supported detector Which forms one wall of the plenum -chamber and Which moves in response to the pressure of an abnormal accumulation of articles within said plenum chamber Yto said paths, power means controlled by said detector for moving the 1 gate across the supply path, bridge-breaking elements operative to prevent articles within the plenum chamber from bridging across the entrances to the several guide paths, and means including a friction clutch for actuating the bridgebreaking elements.

20. In combination in a conveyor having a plurality of independent guide paths along which articles move on their way to a plurality of processing units respectively, said guide paths all leading from a plenum chamber, means for advancing articles into the plenum chamber, means operative to stop the advance of articles to the plenum chamber whenever a congestion of articles occurs in any one of said guide paths resulting in an abnormal accumulation of articles in the plenum chamber, bridge-breaking elements operative to prevent articles Within the plenum chamber from bridging across the entrances to the several guide paths, and means including a friction clutch` for bridge-breaking elements.

2l. In combination in a conveyor having a plurality of independent guide pathsI along which articles move on their way to a plurality of processing units respectively, said pathsv all leading from a common plenum chambenmeans for advancing articles into the plenum chamber, a barrier disposable across the path of approach of articles toward the entrancesto said guide paths,vmeans responsive to a congestion of articles in the plenum chamber resultant from the blocking of one or more of said guide paths, to dispose the barrier in the path of 4articles approaching the plenum chamber, bridge-breaking elements operative to prevent'articles within theiplenum chamber from bridging across the entrances to the several guide paths, and means including a friction clutch for actuating the bridge-,breaking elements.

actuating the 22. In combination in apparatus of the class described a plurality of independent guide paths which articles may move on their Way to a plulalldeading from a plenum chamber and along rality of processing units respectively, a smooth- `moving said barrier across said supply 1,2 surfaced conveyor operative. to move articles simultaneously along all of said paths; me'a'ns for advancing articles toward the entrancesto'said paths, a detector which moves in response',v tothe pressure of an abnormal accumulation of articles at the entrances to ysaid paths due to congestion of articles in one or more of said paths, means actuable by said detector. for lstopping articles approaching the plenum" chamber, bridge-breaking elements operative to 'prevent articles within the plenum chamber from bridging across the entrances to the several guide paths, and means including a friction clutch for actuating the bridge-breaking elements.

23. In combination in apparatus of the class described, a plurality of independent guide'paths along which articles move on their Way toa plurality ofprocessingunits respectively,all of said paths leading from a common plenum chamber, an endless chain provided with smooth-surfaced rigid slats Which collectively constitute a conveyor for advancing articles along a supply path into said plenum chamber, "a pivotally mounted detector which is so located as to be moved from its normal position by the pressure'of an abnormal accumulation of articles Within said plenum chamber due to reduction in theY rate of flow of articles along any of said guide paths, a barrier disposable in the supply path along which articles approach said plenum chamber, and means for nath in response to movement ofthe detector. f

24. In combination in a conveyor having a plurality rof independent guide paths along lwhich `articles move on their Way to a plurality of processing units respectively, means 'for advancing articles toward the entrances to said guide paths, a detector arm pivoted to lswing about a vertical axis, a spring normally holding said arm in a position such that it will bevcontacted by an abnormal accumulation ofl articles adjacent to the entrancesto said guide paths, an vair admissionV valve connected to'said detector arm, said valve `Ibeingconstructed and arranged to control the flow of compressed air through a conduit, a pressure motor to which said conduit supplies air, a barrier movable by said motor into the path along which articles` approach I,the entrances to said,parallel paths, bridge-breaking elements UNITED STATES frafiinvrs,

Number Name Date y 710,574 Grossmann 1 Oct. 7,1902 V1,090,855 Jagenberg Mar. 24,1914 ,1,597,25110y Parker Aug. 24, 1926 1,755,721 Winkler Apnea-19,30 1,931,114 Olney 1 Oct. 17 1933 2,037,931 schmidt Apr-21, 1936 2,183,433 Rheinstromr Dec. 12, 1939 2,333,576

Kerr A 1 Nov. 2,' 1943 for actuating the bridge-breaking. 

